Limpopo Floods: Death Toll Rises to 17 As Government Declares National Disaster

• Limpopo floods were declared a national disaster as the death toll rose to 17, amidst severe weather warnings
• The South African Weather Service issued a Yellow Level 2 Warning for ongoing rain and flooding in the Limpopo region
• Tragic incidents include child drownings as the government activates response measures for disaster relief efforts

For seven years, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, South Africa, covered a range of topics, including accidents, fires, outbreaks, nature, weather, and natural disaster-related incidents, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

LIMPOPO — The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has declared the Limpopo and Mpumalanga floods a natural disaster. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned that floods in Limpopo will continue as the death toll rose to 17.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) welcomed the Head of the National Disaster Management Centre, Dr Elias Sithole's decision to declare the floods a national disaster. Sithole said that the floods caused loss of life and devastation in other provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, the North West, and the Eastern Cape.

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The declaration comes as the death toll in Limpopo increased to 17. The victims died from various drowning incidents, including children who drowned in overflowing pit latrines.

Sithole called on local, provincial, and national governments to strengthen their support to the disaster management structures, implement contingency arrangements, and ensure that measures are put in place. The Department said that the government activated coordinated national response measures to support relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts.

Read the full statement on X here:

SAWS issues Yellow Level 2 warning

The South African Weather Service issued a Yellow Level 2 Warning for most of Limpopo. The northern and eastern parts of the province will experience disruptive rainfall leading to localised flooding of susceptible roads, settlements, low-lying bridges, and major roads. The area will also experience severe thunderstorms, which will bring localised flooding in low-lying areas.

SAWS previously issued a Red Level 10 Warning for floods in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The warning came as the two provinces were battered by heavy rainfall, which caused flooding. The number of people who died during the floods increased to over 30.

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One of the fatalities was a five-year-old child who died in a village in Giyani, Limpopo. The child and his mother were swept away by the heavy floods. Rescuers searched for them and rescued the woman, who was found stuck in a tree. The floods destroyed a total of 36 houses as President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the area to assess the damage.

Toddler drowns in Mpumalanga

In a related article, Briefly News reported that a toddler lost his life when he was swept away by a stream in Msholozi, Mpumalanga. The incident occurred during a period of heavy and destructive rainfall in the province.

According to the mother, she left the boy in the house and crossed the stream. Unbeknownst to her, her son followed her. He was swept away while trying to cross the stream.

Source: Briefly News